No lack of notice of registration day

Today is registration day at District 150 schools. I know this because we’ve gotten three automated calls from District 150 (the last one coming in at 8 a.m.), plus multiple mailed notices. If anyone claims they didn’t know registration day was today, they either don’t have a phone or mail service, or they’re just not very attentive.

110 thoughts on “No lack of notice of registration day”

  1. you will be VERY surprised (or not!) at the number of parents who will say they didn’t know today was registration day. This is a very late time to have registration. It should have been held at least 2 weeks ago so that they would have the time to make sure each child is sent to the correct school and that you have the teachers sufficiently in place. Having it now will only increase the anxiety of young children next Monday when they are told that they are in the wrong school….As usual, D150 is reactive instead of proactive….

  2. back in July we hadn’t heard about this until a family member informed us. Then we got back to school newsletters from the 2 schools we are entering letting us know about the registration days. After reading the newsletters, we found out we didn’t have to register our 2 kids- one going into K that we registered at orientation, the other same thing- registered at 5th grade orientation. All we had to do was pick up ” info packets”

  3. For those who complain about teachers not putting in a full day . . . ask the teachers running registration day today if they’re getting paid for it. They aren’t. Nor are they complaining about not getting paid. This is just one of the many, many times District 150 teachers work on “non-contract” days . . . and are glad to do so.

  4. Not to mention all the teachers that I know who have been working to prepare their classrooms for the past two weeks. And yes, this is for the children……

  5. Those that say they did not know are the same people that show up an hour late every year when the time changes, but never show up an hour early when it changes back.

  6. Yep. The school offices will be filled with irate parent(s) that didn’t know they had to register their child for school. It happens every year and just wait until October 1st when the free lunch kids are refused a free lunch because “mommy” was too lazy to fill out a single page form on registration day.

  7. Emtronics: This year is totally different for primary and middle school–I assume fair warning was given but I don’t believe that much in advance. I think I just heard about it within the last week–don’t recall hearing about it at a board meeting until Monday night. Before only students new to a school had to show up for registration. This year every student has to show up with a parent. Actually, I believe for the first time it must include high school, also. I didn’t know until I read the blog today that Jeff had to show up today at PHS (first day for teachers is not until next week). High school registration was always on the teachers second day back with school starting on the 3rd day. Parents never had to come to registration–just send their kids with money (and in recent years (Emtronics is right), very few kids came on registration day and if they came they had no money. At least, a significant number of Manual students usually strangled in a few per day until after Labor Day. It’s no wonder the district doesn’t know how to count how many kids will be in classes or how many teachers will be needed–it is a sure way for increased class size.

  8. Sharon–

    Today was freshman orientation at PHS. The only students that were to register today were the ones new to the school or freshmen.

    All other students will register on fee day. MHS was the only high school that made all students register today.

  9. This is a Terry Knapp communication and he is as long-winded as I am–but be sure to read the last paragraph of this story. Speaking of registration in District 150: Terry Knapp received a call from a grandmother who was concerned about her granddaughter’s situation. (I guess people still believe Terry has some clout in the district and he, indeed, has been communicating with 150 about this situation). The child had attended kindergarten and 1st grade at Franklin Edison while Principal Valda Shipp was at Franklin. According to the child’s mother, at some point during the girl’s first grade year, she was told by Shipp that the child was not an Edison caliber student and should not continue at Franklin. At the beginning of the next year, the mother tried to enroll her daughter in the 2nd grade at St. Thomas in Peoria Heights. After the girl was tested there, she was told that she couldn’t read, so she would have to repeat 1st grade. Of course, some immediate questions come to mind in the saga so far: When was the girl given a reading test at Franklin-Edison? Did anyone notice in kindergarten that she was not ready for 1st grade? Did Franklin-Edison suggest holding the child back or was she indeed just told she was not fit for an Edison school, as the mother definitely states. I do know that it is possible that the girl may have been passed on to 2nd grade by Franklin-Edison (but that is purely conjecture on my part) because private schools usually do their own testing and can require holding back students passed on by other school districts. However, that is all background and somewhat immaterial to the current event in this child’s life.
    This year the mother wants to return the child to District 150, but obviously not to Franklin Edison. Therefore, the parent contacted the district and was referred to Mary Davis who told her that the only option for the child is Franklin Edison—all other schools are full. Mary Davis has told Terry that Franklin is the only school that can take new students.
    There are numerous questions to ask about this situation. First of all, Franklin Edison is a choice school—the original Edison plan was that even students who live in the Franklin attendance area could opt out. The other assumption, of course, was that demand would be so great that enrollment would be at capacity—so why is Franklin-Edison now the only school with low enough enrollment to accept new students? Why is District 150 paying Edison $800,000 for Franklin with low enrollment and only two other Edison schools, Northmoor and Rolling Acres.
    Here are the Franklin-Edison enrollment figures from the Illinois State Report Card since 1999.
    1999 (535); 2000 (690); 2001 (696); 2002 (645); 2003 (632); 2004 (559); 2005 (460); 2006 (465); 2007 (386); 2008 (410).
    Why are we paying for an Edison school that started out with close to 700 students and now has been at 386 and 410 for the last two years?
    Will the proposed charter school, also, end up being able to screen students to accept only students of a certain “caliber” so as to become a private school with public dollars?

  10. I was at Freshman registration today at PHS. Attendance by teachers and support staff was voluntary today (it is not at Fee Day next Tues.) but there were many in attendance, some of whom were getting rooms ready as well as helping.
    The freshmen and parents who were there had an organized program that took them through 5 rotations.
    I was giving out class schedules, locker numbers and combinations to freshmen who paid (or not) their fees. Of all the students who came through–and these are the motivated ones for the most part–only about half were able to pay fees/get class schedules as they were the ones who had their completed physicals. The rest did not. They cannot begin classes until they present their physical forms, including all immunizations. And this is with dental exams no longer being mandatory for high school students, only suggested/preferred.

  11. We took our two kids to registration today at Whittier. The parental volunteers were very helpful, although it still took a good amount of time to get through the line both sets of forms were filled out.

    What was disappointing about the day was that we couldn’t go to see our kids’ rooms OR meet their teachers. One of my kids’ teachers is a transfer in from Kingman. It would have been nice to be able to meet both teachers before the first day of school.

    At other schools, were you able to see/meet your child’s teachers? Or did you try?

  12. Chief broke out a window and kcdad escaped again. Can someone please return him to us? Ignorant statements running loose are dangerous.

  13. You know of course, in your analogy Randall Murphy was normal and it was Ratchet and the other hospital staff that was psychopathic… Chief was normal, too.

  14. So, is the main complaint here the total lack of notice or that there was too much notification? Or is this simply yet another issue to rail against the District? I mean, if you have kids, then you know school starts soon. You can call, go to the District’s web site, or if you are like CJ, then you got assorted phone calls, so what’s the problem? Is there anything this District does that pleases anyone? Just asking…

  15. Emtronics — I wasn’t complaining about anything. I was simply pointing out that the school gave more than adequate notification about registration day, so if anyone missed it, it’s their own fault. They can’t blame the district.

  16. I worked registration at two schools yesterday. It was so cute to see kids coming in with their parents. Some of the kids wore their uniforms because they were so excited. It went well; we answered general questions, collected forms, money and had a steady pace of parents coming in to take care of business.

  17. Nicely played kcdad 🙂 According to wikipedia the nurse is described as ” A cold, sadistic and passive-aggressive tyrant”

  18. We went to registration yesterday for my daughter entering Kindergarten. It was the most disorganized, crazy experience I have ever seen! I’m not even sure she’s registered. Not one of the forms asked her address, Emergency Contact info or Allergies. When I questioned a couple different people and was told to just complete the forms in the envelope I was given and if they needed additional info they would send the request home with her (my daughter) after school starts.

    I had called the district and then the school two weeks ago and asked about registration (that’s how I found out when it was), PTO, Aftercare, Uniforms ect. Except for the date of registration I was told that I would receive all the information on the day of registration. Yesterday when I again asked about Aftercare, PTO and uniforms I was handed a sheet on the uniforms (fyi – it differs from what was posted on the website – not a lot but the colors ARE different). As for Aftercare and PTO I was told that info would be sent home with my daughter sometime in the first “couple weeks”. Ummm I need aftercare starting next week. Once she starts Kindergarten she can’t go back to daycare.

    I asked about who her teacher was going to be or if we could see the room and was told those things hadn’t been decided yet. I had to ask three times to find out what time she had to be there or even where she was to be.

    I left more frustrated than ever! It’s hard to get her excited about school when she could see how frustrated I got just from registration.

  19. Kindergarten Parent: I was afraid that might happen. District 150 administration (central) undoubtedly put this event together at the last minute and didn’t even give the building principals time enough to organize–150 seems to believe doing things “by the seat of your pants” gets the job done as well as planning ahead. It’s the principals and the teachers trying to make it work that end of up looking disorganized and, thus, open to criticism. This was probably another one of the “big shows” the district planned to give themselves some positive public attention. There is really no reason why this event couldn’t have taken place next week when school officially begins.

  20. Kindergarten Parent is speaking about one school. The schools I worked at both had classroom assignments on the wall. Additionally, The PTO info was available, as was before care and after care sign up. There was also emergency card info, language info, etc. that needed to be approved and/or supplied.

    If you are not sure you were registered, you should not have left. Did you seek out the Principal or the Assistant Principal? You have a computer; did you check info that was needed before you got to the registration event? The info is out there.

    As one of many hard working volunteers (teachers and community volunteers) who worked a couple of these events, I found that parents felt this was a good thing. I don’t want to be hard on you, but unfortunately it seems like you made more of an effort to come here and complain than you did to make sure your child was registered.

  21. What am I missing? The PJS has an article about the Richwoods girls basketball coach being charged with battery. It also mentions he is a convicted felon. How is he allowed to coach as a convicted felon? Was there no background check done? Would you want your daughter to be coached by someone who was convicted of a felony?

  22. Kindergarten Parent:

    My apologies that was unnecessary rudeness. Registering school for the first time should be a good experience. I would just suggest that if you have any questions that are not being answered, seek out the Principal.

  23. My experience on registration day was extremely positive, too! Lots of teachers and PTO on hand to welcome my son, be excited about the new school year, and answer questions. Sounds like it was only a school or two that was disorganized…

  24. Yes, I was wrong–wanted to offer Kindergarten Parent understanding, but I do believe the rest of you are right about the overall registration experience. Keith, this incident might well be the reason that District 150 is making all employees and volunteers go through a background check. At least, I heard that last week the board room was full of people rushing to comply with this requirement. At least, I know one person who has helped with extra-curricular activities for quite some time and was just asked this year to have a background check.

  25. Regarding the Richwwods girls coach. I have had daughters play for him, no problem. The conviction was for a domestic problem almost 15 yrs ago. A problem in a marraige shouldnt impact a persons profession. His ex wife and he had a tumoltous relationship.

  26. This high-scale school let one of the finest Math teachers around go because he watched porno materials on a computer (alone)-admittedly not one of his smartest moves, and also one of the best head football coaches in the area; ;now they are doing what to a guy who scalded his ex-wife with hot water, and pushed a referee in public while representing the school. Nothing to do with personality was it? Nothing to do with his ability to control his emotions in public was it? Why don’t you get off your high-horse out there, stop recruiting blacks to play football and basketball for you, and start treating people right?

  27. I was at registration for the entire time at one school. Granted, things could have gone a little more smoothly, but it was the first time doing it this way. I didn’t see anyone who was irate and I really didn’t even see much frustration. I know the principal was already making notes on how to make it better next year. Doing something the first time is always a learning experience so I would rate the overall experience as positive at the school I was in. My main recommendation for the whole thing would be to have it a little farther back from the first day of school. As long as all involved learned from this year and next year is much better, I’d say good job.

  28. Emerge thank you for your second post. I was not meaning to complain just give my experiences.

    I spoke with my daughter’s daycare teachers who both also registered their kids in D150 schools (though not the same school my daughter will be at) and they both had positive experinces. I was glad to hear that not all parents had the frustrations I experienced.

    Also, just so you know, I did do my research online before we went to register which is why I had all the physicial forms, dental forms, birth certificate, ect. That is also how I know the unform sheet I was given was slightly different than the one posted on the schools website. I called the school on Friday and voiced my concerns. They are going to check my daughter’s registration and make sure it’s complete and call me back on Monday.

  29. Granted things might not have gone well at all schools but it seems “in person” registration is the way to go. It is the first step at the beginning of the year to get parents and students organized and excited about school. Maybe the teachers and admin. can use a wacky wed. to go over improvements to the process for next year.

    I agree with Sharon, the District comes up with a lot of good ideas but . . . the execution is often ill thought out and the follow through often seems non-existent.

    On another note, I urged a friend to check out Richwoods in her search for high schools before blindly signing on the dotted line at Dunlap. She visited both schools and was most impressed with the Richwoods’ principal and the time and attention he devoted to her questions, as compared to the reception she received at Dunlap.

  30. Frustrated: I’m happy you’ve come to that conclusion–I really think that Steve Ptecek’s willingness to communicate with all of us–even those not associated directly with Richwoods[-is admirable and helpful to 150. That said, isn’t Tom Welch the principal at Dunlap? I worked for Tom in 150 when he ran summer school. I found him to be an excellent administrator and a very good person–one that I wished had stayed in 150.

  31. Sharon – my comment was not meant to disparge Mr. Welch but rather to point out a couple of things. 1) when you have a reputation like District 150, right or wrong, you have to try harder. Mr. Ptecek is out to impress and entice families to select District 150. I wish more administrators and board members were of the same mindset. I visited with Mr. Ptecek this Summer. He was open and candid as to his vision for Richwoods and I felt he really wanted my business. 2) I just want to point out that in many instances, District 150 can still “deliver the goods” in terms of offering a quality education as compared to neighboring schools. The problem is, many families in seeking out education options buy into the hype without fully investigating on their own the “best fit” for their student(s).

  32. Frustrated: I knew that–but just in case Tom should happen on to this blog, I wanted him to know that I still remember what a fine administrator he is. Yes, having recently met Steve, I am even more convinced that he will be an asset to 150–and, Randy, just in case, you venture on to the blog (after my invitation to do so)–I certainly don’t want to slight you or the rest of the effective administrators in 150. No matter what I might imply or say on the blog about administrators, I don’t envy any of you your jobs. Have a great year!

  33. Thank you both. I am just glad that you felt what I was trying to convey. We are preparing students for entrance into and success at the same universities that more “popular” local schools are.

    With the help of the wonderful Richwood’s staff and the continued support of our parents, selling our product to incoming parents shouldn’t be that difficult.

  34. District 150 question: I have just learned that District 150 is considering a change in its grading policies–at least, for all four high schools. If brought to the BOE and accepted, the change would be that a student cannot receive a grade on any assignment (and probably test) lower than 40%. As I understand, it even when a student does not turn an assignment in, the grade would be recorded as 40, not zero. One question would be: What if a student does no work for 4 weeks, then does two weeks of passing work (even C range)–isn’t there a good possibility of passing the grading period? Of course, it seems crazy to me, but I would certainly like to hear how some of you feel about it. Worse yet, the district didn’t see fit to make this decision before the start of the school year–in keeping with their policy of never planning ahead. Therefore, teachers (who are already giving assignments and recording grades) may have to go back and change all zeroes to 40s if the change is approved. My other question: If a student can get a 40 for doing nothing, what is the reward for a student who actually earns a 40–should an additional 40 be added to his grade to take him to 80? 🙂 It is too bad that the NCLB test doesn’t give all students a 40-point boost to their score.

  35. Sharon–
    I would think this reverts back to making all students “winners.” We have allowed society to dictate that everyone is great and this is one more way of showing it. I don’t have time to explain my POV, but, in a nutshell, it reminds me of when you have LOTS of people try out for a sports team and they all make it (Varsity level, no less) because we don’t want anybody to feel inferior. I’ll explain it later. On my way to the PHS football game. Gotta watch my kids play in the band, ya know. 🙂

  36. I never thought I’d see the day when I would be rooting for Richwoods. However, I loved going to last night’s football game to watch Mahliyah in the RHS band for the first time. Better yet to watch Mahliyah making her diving debut at the RHS swim meet this morning! I think I understand where you’re going with the sports comparison. I remember one time when a basketball coach wanted me to give an athlete’s grade a little boost. I told him that there was a young man in my class (very short) whose ego needed a little boost–who really wanted to play basketball–I asked the coach if he would consider playing him on the team even though he wasn’t very qualified.

  37. Sharon, I LOVE the way you think. Excellent example for the grade “boost”. I don’t know any employer in Peoria that will give someone 40% of their salary just because they are employed! A ZERO is a ZERO is a ZERO is a ZERO. Students need to learn that NOTHING is free, there is a pricetag on everything. An education however, is priceless!

  38. “Students need to learn that NOTHING is free, there is a pricetag on everything. An education however, is priceless!’

    Here we go again… education is not priceless… not by any means. It costs about $13,000 per student per year in Illinois on average. AND… There is not a price tag on everything. There is no price tag on curiosity, honor, mercy or love or any of the hundreds of other things that make life worthwhile.

    This is another example of nonsense platitudes spewed to promote a capitalist agenda. Y’all are awful quick to point out my commie ideas, but you allow this kind of economic indoctrination to slide right by…

    By the way Sharon, I agree with you.. this 40 baseline is ridiculous, and yet why is this surprising come from our geniuses on Wisconsin Ave?

  39. kcdad: you missed my point completely. Many D150 students pay, in terms of money, for anything to do with school, ie: fees, books, lunches, field trips, clothes….. When there is no monetary “buy-in”, many don’t see the “value”. I was simply explaining that the “free” education they are receiving is a LIFETIME gift. Don’t be so simplistic!

  40. LIFETIME gift… that might be true if there was any real VALUE in that education… other than an initiation into the working world. It certainly isn’t making us more ethical, more enlightened or more compassionate.
    I don’t understand why every time someone mentions value in our society they mean money.

    I have pointed out over and over again, the real value received in education is occurring in home schools and private schools. As my mother so appropriately put it last evening, : kids are learning more outside of school than they are in school. And what they are learning in school is social skills and status consciousness, social class and economic/political conformity.

    I don’t think I misunderstood you at all. So is it a “gift”, is it “free” or is it VERY costly at many levels?

  41. kcdad: “those who find fault in everything, find the beauty in nothing”. I’m trying to figure out who you believe the enemy is. Is it schools or society in general? Perhaps therapy may help!

  42. In the know: He is just trying to make you think and defend your own belief system. (Cough Cough) Oh and by the way he wont defend his and he is always right so I would just stop now while you still can.

    Oh and society in general is the enemy. Well anyone that works in a non Kcdad approved field or anyone who makes more money then they should or more money then Kcdad thinks they should.

  43. Being new on this site, I didn’t understand why everyone targeted kcdad. HOWEVER, after reading the conversation between him and intheknow, I now know why.

  44. “those who find fault in everything, find the beauty in nothing”
    Those who find beauty in everything, find fault in nothing… and never envision change.

    The enemy? We have met him and he is us.

    Right, BooHoo. This is your first time on the site. Is it CJ?

    What would you like me to defend, Stephen? What have I NOT defended?

  45. You constantly attack capitalism as a system based in greed and self interest and state that a communist society is a better yet when questioned about said society you turn around and ask another question and state that its a teaching method?

    So I am not in your class and I am not a student of yours I am a peer so I want a defense of communism that explains what is the incentive to work in a society where pay is not based on production but based on entitlement?

    Correct defenses are not well what does Paris Hilton do, what do rich ceos do in this society, not everyone works in a capitalist society, why do you not not work etc… blah blah blah kcdad comment.

    What happens in a society where everyone is supported and entitled but does not have to produce? Why should I work when I can just eat?

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